Fluid-current separator



Jul 1, 1924.

G- H. FRASER FLUID CURRENT SEPARATOR Original Filed May 21 1915 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jul 1, 1924.

G. H. FRASER FLUID CURRENT SEPARATOR Original Filed May 21 1915 4 Shets-Sheet INVENTOR Q2 M {Wu/L Jul 3, 1924. 1,499,724

6. H. FRASER FLUID CURRENT SEPARATOR Original Filed May 21 1915 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 1 6 MZW Patented July 1, 1924,

GEORGE HOLT FRASER, BROOKLYN, NEW

FLUID-CURRENT SEPARATOR.

Continuation of application Serial No. 29,705, filed May 21, 1915.

Renewed. December 4, 1923.

Serial No. 510,585..

T 0 all whom it may concern,-

Be it known that I, Gnoncn HOLT FRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FluidCurrent Separators, being a continuation of my original application filed May 21, 1915, Serial Number 29,705, renewed April 6, 192-1, renewal Serial Number 459,- 017, of which the'following is a specification.

This invention relates to separators for extracting solids from fluid currents, and aims to provide improvements therein.

Air separators for extracting floating dust from air belong to this class, and usually comprise a rotary or other distributor for finely divided material, a casing comprising feed and dust chambers, means for causing a fluid current to traverse the descending material. from the feed to the dust chamber for floating out and separating the fine dust, and suitable outlets.

My invention aims to provide for a better separation of the finer material, selection or grading of the products, compactness and convenience in construction, and better current regulation, in such devices.

To this end in carrying out the preferred embodiment of my present improvements I provide an improved distributor, an improved selector beyond the distributor, a precipitating chamber beyond the selector, a filter or fine dust extractor succeeding the precipitating and selecting chambers, a current conduit 0 passage in which said parts are successively disposed, means for causing a fluid current to flow through said passage, means for adjusting such current, and sepa rate coarse and fine outlets for the different grades of material.

These improvements may be embodied in either a direct or a radiating current separator, and in one having either an inside or an outside fan or blower for producing the current. but in the preferred form of my invention 1 provide an improved construction. for utilizing an outside blower, and means for introducing a current to and withdrawing it from the casing tangentially or in whirling or c i'clonic condition so that its centrifugal force can he utilized to line the current and avoid short ci o excessi e cu ent p ds at any orally revolving 'd-iv This application filed October 26, 1921.

point, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain adaptations of my improvements as applied to air separators, Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations of thelower portion of the preferred form of my improved separator, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical axial section of an outside blower separator showing the preferred form of my improvements, the view being cut approximately on the lines'33 in Figs. 1, 1 and 5 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is; a horizontal section thereof cut on the planes of the lines 44 in Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

F 5 is a horizontal section thereof cut on the planes of the lines 5 5 in Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 6 a fragmentary vertical axial section of the top of the separator shown in Fig. 1, cut on the same line, and showing the top of the feed pipe, bearing'frame, and feed hopper with my improved sc-alper and tailings pipe therein;

Fig. 7 is a vertical axial section showing a modification of my improvements in outside blower type separators;

Fig. 8 is an axial section showing a modification as applied to an inside blower type of separator.

Referring to the dra-wingslet A indicate the main frame or casing of an air separator, B the feed inlet, C the feeder, D the, distributor, E the feed chamber, F the dust chamber, G the coarse outlet, H the fine outlet, I the fan or blower, and J the driving mechanism. 7

These parts may be of any usual or suitable construction which will serve to di tribute finely divided material and cause a fluid current to flow through the material as it descends so as to permit the fines to be floated into the dust chamber while the tailings fall through the feed chamber. The casing is usually a sheet metal cylinder enclosing the necessary cones, walls, and

pipes to provide suitable conduits, passages and chambers for the currents and products desired. The inlet usually comprises a hopper for connection with a source of supply of pulverulent material. The feeder is gen c e dist ibutor usually comprises means for causing the material to descend in a thin wide stream in the feed chamber. The blower is usually situated inside or outside of the casing connected to cause a current to flow from the feed chamber through the descending material and into the dust chamber in an endless circuit. The fine outlet receives and discharges material precipitated in the dust chamber.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I will now describe in detail the preferred adaptation of my improvements as shown therein as applied to an outside blower.

According to one feature of improvement, as shown in Fig. 6, the inlet B is provider with a stationary hopper at having a conical or tapering bin 6 protected by conical or I tapering scalper 0 having a central coarse outlet (Z for taking oversize from the bin and a central line outlet 6 for feeding the separator, which hoppr-r is adapted to malre suitable contact with an adjustable hopper f as by having a hollow or cylindrical wall 9 making sliding contact with a reciprocal wall 71. of the latter to prevent l The "leer hopdust leakage between tnese. per 7 has a feed pipe 2' opposite the op nine;

=6 and extending axially of the separator through the tubular drive shaft 7' and top wall is thereof into the feed chamber E, and opening opposite the feeder disc towarr. and from which it is adjustable to control speed of flow by screws Z, lt slides in a guideway m, which is divided so that it an be clamped in position when set and can be easily loosened for adjustment or freed for removal,

Feed to the hopper b may come from any direction, and it may turn to direct its coarse spout (Z to either side. It is ref-novably mounted on the driving frame or bracket 71 which supports the f ed pipe, feeder and driving mechanism.

The feeder C is an adjustable revor ing disc carried by bolts 0 from the flanged lower end of the tubular shaft 9' within the chamber E, which shaft extends upwardly upon the' feed pipe I and has upper and lower bearings p for guiding, and supporti it, intermediate of which it is driven, as by a bevelled gear 0' lreved to the shaft and meshing with bevelled gear 7' on the shaft 3.

The bracket or is opensided and has split bearings, so that the d iving shaft can be removed. The bearings 7? preferabl g' con prise U-shaped or grooved cupped rino; fi

removably and EidjllStflblY seated in bracket a and containing balls and races which run in oil in the cupped ring, which is high enough to preserve the desired oil level, and constructed to malre a dust joint with the tubular shaft and its gear at the lower bearing: and with this shaft and its supporting collar a at the upper bearing:

ingor extracting means The distributor D preferably consists of a series of inclined members adapted to re ceive material from the feeder and cause it to fall in a wide thin stream. When the material is to surround the feed chamber the distributor members are annular rings, and when its speed of descent is to be controlled these comprise alternately reversely inclined.spaced rings which will intercept, distribute, collect and distribute the material as it descends so as to cause to follow a Zig-zag downward course and retard it so that it will form a slowly descend ing wall or envelope surrounding the feed chamber. As shown the distributor com prises an impact bafiie ring; o, outer converging or receiving rings a, and inner carding and distributing rings or dams 0 arranged concentrically and forming a sch stantially cylindrical cage or distributor having "narrow feeding passages 3 between the rings in and an, and wide air passages between successive pairs of these rin so that the material will fall from step to step and the air current will flow out between each step in a series of upwardly inclined but substantially horizontal flowing streams isolated by the respective rings, and will thereby float out with it all mater al fine enough to be carried by the current toward the dust chamber.

1 preferably provide a selector N. of inner rings or plates 9 and outer spaced rings or plates 77?, affording between them sinuous current passages v1 and outlets 5 beyond the distributor.

Tailings from the distributor will fall onto the tailings cone It and descenr.

throue'b its discharge pipe L to the coarse cone M with those from the selector ll. The dust and air will descend from the dust chamber F, and the air will [low through the return passage O which is in communication through the suction and blast chau'ibers with the pipe L so that the current may circulate continuously through these and the dust and feed chambers to provide an endless circuit so that the air mar be used over and over. Dust coarse enousrh to precipitate in the dust chamber will fall in the dust cone P and flow to the outlet l-l. One feature of my improvements provir' for making a separation of the line material reaching the dust chamber to an excessively fine product, well extracting; all of the floating material from the current, and this l preferably accomplish by providing filter I between the dust chamber and the return passage Or and a supplemental or intermediate collector or extraction chamber R for the product ex:- tracted. and a separate extraction outlet 5% therefor. The filter is preferably per-- vious forrnaminous construction, a d is shown Isiflnrality of rows of vertic arranged hollow sided troughs or tubes, one row within the other, and disposed so that the hollow face of a trough of the inner row is opposite the space between adjacent edges of two outer troughs, so that current passing between these will form voids, air cones or dead spaces opposite their faces, in which flowing material may settle and descend to the chamber R without danger of being again taken up by the current.

These tubes are preferably vertical or slightly inclined outwardly at their lower ends so that material descending therein may slide down them instead of falling outwardly into the current. The tubes extend from the underside of the wall K to or into the chamber B so as to guide their precipitates past any existing current and deposit them in the calm within this chamber.

They constitute a fora-niinous wall separat ing the dust chamber from the return chamber, and will be adapted to extract particles of the fineness desired from the return current or to clean the return air, and the proportioning and location of adjacent parts will be adapted to permit precipitation of lumps of predetermined coarseness outside of the filter so that the extraction in the latter will be only of the fineness desired. As shown in the construction inFig. 3 the extraction chamber has. an outer wall rising; above the bottom of the dust-chamber to provide a pocket or guard 'at the lower part of the latter for protection against ingress of coarse particles and the filter is surrounded by guards or bevels e to prevent inbounding of coarse pieces.

My invention preferably provides for sub-dividing the dustchamber and downwardly directing its solid contents in an annular blanket and its fluid contents in an annular current outwardly thereof. This is preferably accomplished by a divider or dam T which is shown as an outwardly inclined ring or plate a and a. reversely inclined ring or plate 6' spaced apart to their adjacent edges sufliciently to provide a dust passage 0 for directing outwardly the dust in the chamber F into the precipitating chamber U. The ring a is opposite the wall K, and directs the dust outwardly therefrom, while the ring Z is spaced apart from the casing A to provide between its outer side and the casing an annular current passage cl down which the air from the chamber can flow freely. so as to bring the air at the outer side 'of the descending dust. Below the divider this outer air flows slowly inwardly toward the filter Q thus giving'it a reverse inward act-ion to float particles of the desired fineness into the filter while permitting larger material to precipita t'e. Whirl checks (Z dust guards: 6 and air chutes f are provided.

accedin to feature Of my vention I provide an outside blower as the current producing means, and means for connecting the suction side of this blower with the return chamber or passage 0 inwardly of the dust, precipitation and. extraction chambers, and means for centrifugally or tangentially exhausting the air so that cyclonic effect to equalize .its action may be utilized. as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by providing an annular exhaust chamber V inwardly of the precipitation and extraction chambers, surrounding the tailings pipe L. and-be neath and outwardly of the outlet opening of the return passage 0, from which chamber the suction pipe W leads'tangentially, so that the exhausted current will be whirled in the chamber V, producing a uniform rarefaction around the outlet f of the passage 0, through which the outflow will uniformly pass through a sinuous "passage-g to the suction chamber V. As shown the inclined, bottom wall 72/ of this chainber extends from its cylindrical front wall 2" to the cone or wall K, and carries an annular dam 0" extending outwardly toward the inclined inner wall of the extraction chamber, so to leave a narrow space under the latte]; which is interrupted by an annular reverse cone or wall Z constituting the bottom wall of the chamber '0.

My invention comprises means for availing of similar conditions to those described for introducing the current from'an outside blower. These preferably consist of an annular blast chamber unoer the suction chamber V and into which the pressure pipe Y of the blower discharges tangentially so as to cause the blast to whirl therein and equalize itself before flowing over the lower wall m of this chamber through its central outlet ninto the compression chamber Z from which it overflows under-the lower'end of the pipe L into the feed chamber E. The bottom wall 0 of the chamber Z extends from the wall n downwardly and ends in or forms part of the tailings outlet G, which is usually closed with an automatic or guard valve to prevent current outflow. Y v

By these provisions the exhaust and pressure currents can be provided with the minimum of irregularity and short circuits will. be avoided, so that the currentsmay oper ate uniformly and avoid variations in product. The various extractions will flow down outside of the current chambers. and the coarse tailings pass centrally through them, the incoming air rising through the falling tailings.

My invention provides improved means for regulating the current, preferably consisting in a valve 39' on the outlet Land adapted to be raised or lowered to diminish the air passage 2 under this pipe, thus avoiding disturbance of relation 'of' any o'f This is preferably accomplished the other parts while permitting suitable current regulation. The valve 2) is shown as adjusted by alever r operated by a rod 8.

According to another feature of improvement the several internal conduits are eX- posed or directly accessible from the outside. As shown the bottom I? of the cylindrical dust chamber is conical, and the outlets from the precipitation chamber U and the extraction chamber R constitute annular cylindrical or tubular portions to 0) respectively of sufiicient height to include the exhaust and pressure pipes and permit an inclined wall bottom to for these cylindrical portions of suitable inclination to be steeper than the angle of flow of material from these chambers, between which inclined walls the outer walls of the chamber U and P are cut away or omitted so as to expose the cylindrical outer wall 00 of the suction and blast chambers V and X, so that the pipes W and Y can be directly tangentially connected to these. The inclined walls w" of the chambers U and R are substantially spiral and wind around the chambers V a d X to the lower edge 0) thereof, and the cutaway parts of the cylindrical walls permit access beneath this ed e, and expose under it the spout and conical wall 0 of the pressure chamber M, which is detachably mounted on and can be removed from the other parts to give access within the separator.

The dust and extraction passages continue downwardly from the bottom of the edge e as sections of cones on inwardly inclined tubular passageway a and a respectively until meeting their respective outlet spouts R and S.

The several parts are suitably supported, the distributor rings being supported from their remote edges by posts 6 to permit uninterrupted annular space between their adjacent edges.

In operation the feeder and blower may be connected to drive together at any relative speed, or operated independently. The speed of feed will be adjusted by adjusting the secondary hopper, and speed of current by adjusting the fan or the usual butterfly valves or the valve P. Products of the de sired grades being arrived at the separator will continue uniform work without subsequent adjustment. lntermixing of prod ucts or their isolation will be resorted to by opening or closing the valve 0 which will be opened when the filter is merely used to insure cleaning all dust from the returning air, and will be closed when the extracted product is to be used separately from that precipitated in the chamber U It will be seen that my invention provides improvements which can be readily and advantageously availed of in whole or part cone M to be fixed relatively to the and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, arrangement and combination parts set forth as constituting its preferred embodiment, since it can be used in whole or in part according to such modifications of these as circumstances or the judgment 0% those skilled in the art may dictate, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

One such modification is shown in Fig in which the erhaust pipe G and blas H e iter t e' chambers from below d ally u v spirall so as to whir current in their respective cones as they communicate with the suction chamber and blast chamber X, the cylindrical intermediate portion of the separator here being eliminated, and the conical extremities, oublets for Lil: several cones. and passe requisite to the connections and conductions, being smooth. form is adapted to vertical compactness and simplicity but does not permit taking as complete advantage of centrifugal utilization for cyclonic current effects as does the more complete form described.

f nother modification is shown in Fin. 8, in which my improvements are utilized with an inside blower, the tan 1 surrounding the distributor inwardly of the dust Cl121111- her, and the valve 3) permitting the coarse n tei My improved selector N is used between the distributor and the dust chamber for extracting large pieces from the current before reaching the latter when it is desired that nothing exceeding a predetermined size shall enter the dust chamber, as when prodct of the precipitating chamber is to be used as a separate product coarser than that of the extracting chamber but not having pieces coarser than those that will pass the selector. The inner selector plates preferably annular outwardly and downwardly inclined rings, and the outer selector plates /L2 are preferably annular upwardly inclined rings spaced suiiiciently apart from the plates to provide narrow annular outlets 7' "for the lar 'er particles selected out or the current, so that those 11 "v descend across the current passages 4? nl fall onto the wall K, down which they will slide and mingle with the coarse tailings passing out through the discha e pipe L unless they are to constitute a scparat product, in which case a supplemental tailings cone and conduit will be mounted above the cone K, so as to provide a separate outlet for this intermediate granular selection. The selector ll may be omitted when its function or product results are not desired.

It will be noted that the current passages through the distributor and selector constitute undulating horizontal and upwardly progressing sinuous conduits in which the direction of outflow of the current is successively changed so that precipitation of large particles is facilitatec; also that the parts are proportioned to insure a careful diminution of current speed that the-final speed of flow shall be that suited to floating the maximum size it is desired to carry into the dust chamber.

To prevent centrifugal or whirling cur rents in the dust 'chanber and aid in extracting floating dust therein vertical whirl checks d are preferably provided on its outer wall as shown, and to project dust descending on this wall into the trough of the divider dust guards or deflectors e are fastened on this wall sufficiently above the air passage to permit current to flow underneath them around the divider T, and sulficiently close to the latter to project descending dust through this current into the trough.

Below the divider for operating inwardly the external current air chutes or deflectors are preferably provided on the inner wall, so that this descending current will first go outwardly around the divider and then be converged inwardly toward the descending stream or envelope of dust to float the finest thereof toward the filter or return chamber. These parts may be fixed or adjustable and multiplied to suit circumstances.

closing the scope and applicability of the features incident to this invention which I prefer to claim in this application many features of improvement in separators and similar apparatus are herein shown and set forth but not specifically claimed in this application, being the subject matter of claims in my applications, Serial Numbers 858,791 filed August 27, 1914, renewal number 267,401, filed December 18, 1918; 859,004 filed August 28, 1914, renewal number 267,- 402 filed December 18, 1918; 69024 filed December 28, 1915; 69025 filed December 28, 1915; and 235,914 filed May 22, 1918, the latter being a division of application Serial Number 29,705, filed May 2-1, 1915, of which tiis application is a continuation.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for cansing a fluid current therein totraverse such material, meansaffording a precipitation chamber beyond said distributing means, means affording a current passage from" said chamber, an extractor between said chamber and said passage for extracting floating material from the current flowing from said chamber to said passage and comprising a foraminous partition constituting a wall of said chamber, a fixed wall below the latter for said chamber, a second fixed wall below said extractor and affording a wall for said passage, said fixed walls spaced apart and affording between them a fine conduit for material precipitated by said extractor, and said fixed walls terminating at their upper edges below and affording a wayabove them for said current passage and a fine conduit between them out of the path of said current, means affording a coarse outlet below said distributor, and means affording a precipitate outlet below said chamber.

2. In combination, acasing, means for dis tributing material therein,means for causing a fluid current to traverse such material therein, means affording a precipitation chamber surrounding 7 said distributing means for receiving such current, means at fording a return current passage leading from said chamber, an extractor between said chamber and said passage for extracting floating material from the current flowing from said chamber comprising a fo'raminous partition constituting a wall of said chamber, a wall for said chamber below said extractor, a fixed wall spaced apart from said last mentioned wall, said last mentioned Walls terminating at their upper edges below and affording above them a space for SELlCl passage and affording between them a fine conduit out of the path of said current for precipitate from said extractor, means affording a coarse outlet below said distributor, and means affording a precipitate outlet from said chamber.

3. Incombination, acasing, means for distributing material therein, means for caus passage and an intermediate part affording a wall for said return passage, a fixed Wall below and inwardly of said extractor and below and spaced apart from said annular means, affording a lower wall for said return passage and an outlet for coarse material, a wall below said extractor spaced apart from said fixed wall having its upper edge below and affording a space above it for said return passage and-affording below said extractor a conduit out of the path of-said current for fine material intercepted by said extractor, and means affording an. outlet from said precipitate chamber.

4 In combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a fluid current therein to traverse such material, a selector beyond said distributor, comprising upwardly and downwardly extending plates or members spaced apart to aliord a current passage between them, means providing an outlet for material precipitated by said selector, means providing a dust chamber beyond said selector, an extractor beyond said dust chamber, means affording an outlet for material precipitated by said extractor separate from said chamber, and means affording conduits for causing such current to traverse successively said distributor, said selector, said chamber and said extractor.

5. In combination, acasing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a fluid current to flow therein through such material, means affording a chamber beyond said distributing means, means affording a chamber beyond said chamber, means between said chambers for causing dust settling in the former chamber to flow in a wide thin stream through an intermediate part of the latter chamber, and means for causing said current to again traverse said material in the latter chamber.

6. In combination,acasing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a current therein to flow through such material, means affording a dust chamber beyond said distributing means, means atfording a second chamber below said chamber, means between said chambers receiving material from said first chamber and precipitating it into said second chamber intermediate of the walls thereof, and means affording a current passage communicating from said first chamber to said second chamber beyond said receiving means for causing current from said first chamber to flow into said second chamber beyond said precipitated material.

7. In combination, a. casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported within said casing below the upper receptacle and in spaced relation thereto and havin its upper part spaced from the lower end or said upper receptacle and affording a return current passage between it and said upper receptacle, means to cause a fluid current to circulate through and around said upper receptacle and through the space between said receptacles, means Within and adjustable vertically relatively to said lower receptacle tovary the space between said receptacles through which the current is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

8. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a fixed lower receptacle lined below the upper receptacle and in spaced relation to said upper receptacle and affording a return current passage between said receptacles, an adjustable valve surrounding said upper receptacle and adjustable vertically downward inwardly of the outer edge e of said lower receptacle for varying the space between said receptacles through which return current is permitted t circulate, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

9. ln combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported below and having its upper end spaced from the lower end of the upper receptacle to all'ord a return current passage between them, an annular valve surrounding said upper receptacle within and adjustable downwardly toward said lower receptacle for varying the space between said receptacles through which return current is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

10. in combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported below and in spaced relation to said upper receptacle having an open upper end spaced from said upper receptacle to afford a passage for return current between them, a cylindrical valve within said lower receptacle and adjustable vertically to vary the space between said receptacles through which such current is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

11. In combination, a casing, neans to! distributing material therein, means affording a chamber surrounding said distributing means, means affording a suction chain ber communicating with. said chamber, means affording an annular blast chamber, an annular perforate wall between said suction and blast chambers affording a bottom wall for the former and top wall for tl e latter, a tailings conduit affording a wall for said blast chamber, and means afford) i a tangential blast passage communicate with said chamber, and means affording; a return conduit traversing said blast chamber axially.

12. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within'the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open to p and an open bottom, a fixed lower receptacle supported below and in spaced relation to said u pper receptacle to afford between them a return current passage and affording be low the open bottom of said upper receptacle a tailings outlet for coarse material descending through said opening, a circular valve inwardly of and above said lower receptacle and adjustable vertically toward the latter to vary the space between said receptacles through which return current may flow. and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

13. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle sup ported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported below and in spaced relation to said upper receptacle and affording between them a return current passage and affording below the open bottom of said upper receptacle an outlet for coarse material, an annu lar wall mounted in said chamber belowsaid upper receptacle and extending clownwa-rdly therefrom and surrounding the space between said receptacles and affording an opening into said chamber exteriorly of said receptacles, means to cause a fluid current to circulate between said re ceptacles and through and around said upper receptacle and through said opening, a vertically adjustable valve above said lower receptacle within said annular wall for varying the space between said receptacles through which said current is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

14. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported below and in spaced relation to said upper receptacle and afl ording between them a return current passage and affording below said lower opening an outlet for coarse material, a foraminous wall surrounding said return current passage for extracting floatto from said chamber, a valve adjustable relatively to said lower receptacle and disposed inwardly of said wall for varying the space through which current between said receptacles is permitted to flow, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

15. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced rela-' tion to said casing and ha ing an open top I and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported below and in spaced relation to said upper receptacle and affording between them a return current passage and affording below said lower opening an outlet for ing material from the current flowing there coarse material, filtering means for extracting floating material from the return current surrounding said return passage below said upper receptacle and affording communication between said chamber and said return passage, means adjustable relatively to said lower receptacle and disposed inwardly of said filtering means for Varying the space through which return current may pass to flow between said receptacles, means for causing a fluid current to flow through said upper receptacle and said passage, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle. I

16. In combination, an outer casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber and having an open top and a lower opening, a lower receptacle supported below and spaced apart from said upper receptacle and affording between them a return current passage and affording below said lower opening an outlet for coarse material, means for causing a fluid. current to flow through said upper receptacleand return through said passage, an adjustable valve above said lower receptacle and surrounding the lower opening of said upper receptacle and adjustable vertically relatively to said receptacles to vary the space between them through which return current may flow, and means for feeding material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

1?. In combination, a casing enclosinga distributing chamber, means for distributing material therein, means affording a chamber surroundingsuch chamber, means affording a return chamber communicating with said surrounding chamber and surrounding said distributing chamber, a tailings cone, means affording a tubular tailings conduit having an open end affording a return conduit surrounded by and extending exteriorly of said return chamber, means affording a pressure chamber surrounding and communicating with said tailings conduit, and means for withdrawing current from'said return chamber and for introducing current to said pressure chamber.

18. In combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing current therein to traverse such material, means affording a chamber surrounding said distributing means, a tapering lower wall for said chamber, a cylindrical wall below said tapering wall'and recessed or cut away at one side, second wall inwardly of aid cylindrical wall and exposed at the cutaway portion thereof, means affording a returnpassage enclosed'by said second wall, means affording a fine conduit intermediate of said walls, means affording a return chamber communicating with said return conduit, and means affording a tailings out-let below said return conduit.

19. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle in spaced relation to said casing, and having an open top and a lower opening and a bottom conica wall, a downwardly outwardly inclined conical wall surrounding said lower opening below said conical wall, and affording a current outlet passage from said chamber, a tailings cone below and spaced apart from said lower opening and affording current return passage below said outwardly inclined wall, a blower connected at its suction side to said outlet passage above and at its blast side to said return passage below said outwardly inclined wall, and means for feeding material to be separated to said receptacle.

20. In combination, a casing,.means for distributing material therein, means for causing a current therein to fiow through such material, means affording a chamber around said distributing means, means affording a tailings conduit leading from said casing, means affording a fines conduit leading from said chamber, and means affording a return conduit communicating with said chamber, said casing having recessed outer walls exposing the walls of said tailings conduit inwardly of said fines conduit.

21. In combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a current therein to tlow through such material, means affording a chamber around said distributing means, means affording a chamber inwardly of said chamber, means affording a fine outlet for said first mentioned chamber, and a current exhausting means communicating with said first mentioned chamber, said casing having a portion affording access thereto.

22. In combination, casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a current therein to flow through such material, and means affording a chamber surrounding said distributing means having a portion af ording a plurality outlet conduits spaced apart from one another and affording between them opei iings or spaces for access to the space inwardly of said chamber.

23. In combination, a casing, scans for distributing material therein, means for causing a current therein. to flow through such material, means affording chamber surrounding said distributing means, and means affording a chamber inwardly of said first mentioned chamber, said casing having a bifurcated portion affording access to said second chamber.

24:. In combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing a current to flow therein, a chamber surrounding said means, means affording a 'tailings outlet below said distributor, means affording a return chamber below said chambar, a series of hollow sided extracting troughs between said chambers, means affording an annular conduit receiving the product from said troughs, means affording a separate conduit outwardly of and surlOElBCllllg said conduit for the precipitate l first mentioned chamber, and is a oi-ding a current conduit communiwith return chamber inwardly d annular conduit.

combination, a casing, means for distributing material in a path therein, means for causing a fluid current to flow herein across said path, selecting means in he path of said current successive to said naterial path providing a horizontally exending sinuous current passage for receiving said current successive to said material path for extracting coarse particles carried by said current and aflording a lower parti'cle outlet beneath an intermediate portion of sad sinuous passage for particles precipitated in said passage, a percipitation chambcr within said casing successive to and receiving current from said sinuous passage, and means exposed without said casing affor ng a return current chamber for receiving said current successive to said precipitation chamber and returning such current to the other side of said path.

In combination, a casing, means for cistributing material in a path therein, means for causing a fluid current to flow 1 J- erem across said path, selecting means in the path of said current successive to said nater al path and affording a horizontally sinuous current passage successive naterial path for receiving said cureut successive to said material path for exracting coarse particles carried by said curnt, and providing a lower particle outlet such particles below an intermediate pori of said sinuous passage, means within in casing ai iording a suction chamber surunding said parts for receiving said current successive to said selecting means, means exposed without said casing affording a return chamber communicating between said suction chamber and the other side of said path, means affording a return conduit for said current, and a blower in c mmunication with said return conduit and connected at its suction side With said suction chamber and at its discharge side with the other side of said path.

.27. in combination, a casing, means for distributing material therein, means for causing current to flow therein through said material, means affording an annular chamber surrounding said distributing means, a current chamber inwardly of and surrounded by said annular chamber, means affording a bottom wall for said annular chamber surrounding said current chamber and affording an opening or space for access 1 i enterthn to the latter inwardly of said annular chamber, and means affording a current conduit communicating between said chambers through said openingor space for returning such current from said annular chamber to said current chamber.

28. In combination, a casing affording an outer annular chamber, means for distributing material in said casing, means for causing a current to flow in said casing through such material, means affording a bottom wall for said outer chamber affording a recess or space below the latter for access beneath and inwardly of saidouter chamber, a tailings cone below and inwardly of said annular chamber, projecting without said casing, and mounted in and exposed to access through said recess or space, and means affording a current conduit communicating between said outer chamber and said tailings cone for returning current from the former through the latter to said casing inwardly of said distributing means.

29. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle within and in spaced relation to said casing having an open top and a lower opening, a lower receptacle exposed without said casing having an open top and spaced below said lower opening for receiving coarse material falling therefrom and affording a passage for return current from said chamber, means for causing a fluid current to flow through said upper receptacle into said chamber and re-- turn through said passage, and means for feeding material to said upper receptacle.

30. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, a receptacle in said casing having an upper opening in spaced relation to said chamber, means for feeding material to be separated to said receptacle, means for causing a fluid current to flow through said receptacle and into said chamber, means for returning said current to said receptacle, and detachably mounted means, at the under side of said receptacle and exposed without said chamber affording a lower wall for receiving coarse material and an outlet for the latter.

31. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having a removable wall affording a closure for said casing and affording an outlet for coarse material from said chamber, a receptacle in said casing having an upper opening in spaced relation to said chamber and having a lower opening communicating with said coarse outlet, means for feeding material to be separated to said receptacle, means for causing a fluid current to flow through said receptacle into said chamber, and means enclosed by said removable wall affording a return conduit for causing current to return from said chamber to said receptacle through said lower opening.

32. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having a removable tailings cone affording a closure therefor, a receptacle said chamber, a receptacle in said casing hav inganupper opening communicating with said chamber and a lower opening communicating with said outlet, means for feeding material to said receptacle, means for causing a fluid current to flow through such'material from said receptacle through said top opening to said chamber, and means for causing said current to return from said casing to said receptacle.

34:. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having a removable outer wall, a receptacle within and in spaced relation to said casing having an upperopening therein communicating with said chamber and having a lower material outlet, means for feeding material to said receptacle, means for,

causing a fluid current to flow from said receptacle through such material and such up-' per opening to said chamber, means inwardly of said outer wall for returning such current from said chamber to said receptacle, means without said removable outer wall affording a fine outlet from said casing, and

means traversing said removable outer wall affording a coarse outlet from said casing.

35. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, means for distributing material within said chamber, means for causing a fluid current in said chamber to flow outwardly therein through such material to float line material therein into the outer part of said chamber, and a tailings cone below said distributing means having an upper opening communicating with said chamber and a lower outlet affording a conduit for coarse material therefrom,said tailings cone exposed without and affording an outer wall for said casing.

36. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber, means for distributing material to be separated therein, means for causing a fluid current therein to flowthrough such material to float fine particles to the outer part of said casing, and a removable tailings cone affording an outer wall for said chamber and a lower outlet for coarse material descending from said chamber.

LCD

37. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having an open side, means for distributing material Within said chamber, means for causing a fluid current in said chamber to float fine material to the outer part thereof, and means exposed through the open side of said casing affording an outlet for coarse material from said chamber.

88. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having an open side, means for distributing material Within said chamber,

means for causing a fluid current in said chamber to float fine material to the outer part thereof, and means exposed through the open side of said casing affording a return current passage for such current.

39. In combination, a casing enclosing a chamber and having an open side, means for distributing material Within said chamber, means for causing a fluid current in said chamber to float fine material to the outer part thereof, and means exposed through the open side of said casing afiording a return current passage for such current and a tailings outlet for coarse material from such chamber.

40. In combination, a casing enclosing an annular outer precipitation chamber and having a removable outer bottom Wall inwardly of said annular precipitation chamber, a receptacle Within and in spaced relation to said casing having an upper opening communicating With said chamber and having a lower opening in spaced relation to said bottom Wall, means for feeding material to be separated to said receptacle, means for causing a fluid current to flow through and around said receptacle and return between the latter and said bottom Wall, and means for permitting coarse material descending from said receptacle to escape through said bottom Wall.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE HOLT FRASER. 

